Chatham-Kent adding paramedics as Code Zero calls see 254% jump over 5 years

Chatham-KentEmergency Medical Services have noticed a 254 per cent increase in Code Zeros over the last five years, according to a report filed by Fire and EmergencyServicesChief Bob Crawford.

A Code Zero is when there are "three or less transport ambulances available to respond to an emergency" in the municipality.

• Essex-Windsor EMS welcomes 22 news recruits, more coming in May

After reviewing the report, council unanimously approved an increase to the budget to allow for more staff and another ambulance, a move welcomed by the paramedics union and recommended by fire chief BobCrawford.

"This is a measure that's going to ease our pressure but not fix the problem," said Crawford, who said the municipality and the EMS are constantly working to find a balance between increasedcosts and balanced services.

"We're also taking a look at how can we afford to do this."

Increase welcomed, more wanted

A union representative for paramedics working withChatham-Kent EMS said that they've been sounding the alarmfor increased funding since 2016.

"We're seeing a drastic increase in the injury rates of the paramedics," said Chris Stolte, who sits on the health care executive boardfor the Service Employees International Union. He saidthe increase is a direct result of staffing issues.

"In the last three years we've had three paramedics that have gone off work with cardiac events and right now we currently have 10 to 12 paramedics that are off on long-term and short-term disability."

Stoltesaid that he applauds councils decision to add another ambulance to the service but he believes "we need two to three more ambulances on the road."

Data-driven decisions

Crawford acknowledges the difficulties paramedics face working in Chatham-Kent.

"We have some challenges with really critical incidents and the effects it has on our staff, people that are working. It's very difficult work and I don't discredit that," he said.

"One of the ways to ease that is to try to ease some of the pressuresin terms of demand and we are on that."

Crawford said the other way to reduce pressures is through eliminating health risks such as morbid obesity, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and other chronic illnesses.

"We also look at things like improving the offload times at the hospital," said Crawford, adding that the ambulance and paramedics arenot released until the patient is admitted into the hospital.

"We can't guarantee by adding another ambulance that it's going to eradicate a challenge," said Crawford,